Archive for February, 2005

The melting Arctic ice is fueling a rush for the North Pole region’s resources.

Governments are jostling for political control over new passages for ships between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The disappearing sea ice could also open the way to exploit a bounty of oil, gas, minerals, and fish once protected by their inaccessibility, scientists and environmentalists caution.

A newfound dinosaur species from Argentina suggests that fleet-footed, meat-eating dinosaurs with sickle-like claws on their hind feet roamed both the Southern and Northern Hemispheres through the end of the dinosaur age.

The new species, named Neuquenraptor argentinus, was about seven feet (two meters) long and similar in shape and size to Velociraptor mongoliensis, the smart, speedy, sickle-clawed dinosaurs immortalized in the movie Jurassic Park.

For some, the magic moment happened a week ago. For others, it happened just the other day. Many are still waiting, but some morning soon they too will wake to the lilt of a backyard bird pleading for a mate.

Chickadees will whistle “Phoebe,” nuthatches will honk like a tinny horn, titmice will screech “Peter, Peter, Peter,” and woodpeckers will hammer out their heart’s desire with their beaks against hollow branches.

Scientists have shown that, for hepetitis B vaccine, genetically modified potatoes may be an alternative to the syringe and needle.

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes liver failure and liver cancer. Despite the availability of a safe, injectable vaccine, the virus currently infects an estimated 350 million people worldwide and kills about a million people every year.

When the groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil was pulled from his fake tree trunk in Pennsylvania on February 2, he saw his shadow. According to legend, that means the winter blues are sticking around.

So, what’s the good news?

According to John Hanson Mitchell, an editor with the Massachusetts Audubon Society in Lincoln and author of the book A Field Guide to Your Own Backyard, insects in the winter lie so low they seem to have disappeared. Worry about bug bites can also wait for warmer weather.